Madison - Physicians would have to consult with women face-to-face - instead of via web cameras - when they administer abortion-inducing drugs, under a bill legislators sent Thursday to Gov. Scott Walker on their last scheduled day.

The wide-ranging measure would also require doctors to speak privately with women seeking abortions to determine whether they had been coerced. Physicians could face a felony for ignoring the new rules.

The bill passed the Assembly, 60-33, with all Republicans voting for the measure along with two Democrats, Rep. Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis) and Rep. Peggy Krusick (D-Milwaukee).

"This is not stopping abortions," said the bill's lead sponsor, Rep. Michelle Litjens (R-Oshkosh). "This is protecting a woman from an abortion she does not want to have."

It marked the second time this week Republicans who control the Assembly approved restrictions on abortion as they raced to wrap up their work. The session had some of the most bitter political fights in recent memory, with feuds over union bargaining and the state budget leading to recall efforts against Walker and senators of both parties.

Lawmakers on Thursday also sent Walker bills allowing home brewers to share their products more widely and new policies aimed at improving reading by Wisconsin students.

The GOP-led Senate adjourned Thursday afternoon, but the Assembly was expected to go into Friday morning. It planned to take up measures changing the makeup of the Milwaukee Area Technical College Board and rewriting the law on tenants' rights.

The abortion bill was aimed at ensuring that doctors aren't using web cameras to consult with women about abortion-inducing drugs, as they do in some other states, in an effort to make them more easily available in rural areas.

The bill would prevent women from receiving drugs that induce abortions unless a doctor provided a physical exam and was in the same room when the woman received the drugs. Democrats said it amounted to lawmakers telling physicians and their patients how to handle their health.

"We don't trust the people of Wisconsin to make a decision with their doctor about their own health care," said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison).

Police twice removed demonstrators from the galleries above the Assembly Thursday, once for a brief outburst.

Foes of the legislation said that the webcam technique is not used in Wisconsin and that the bill is meant to make it harder for women to obtain abortions.

The bill, which passed the Senate last week on a party-line 17-15 vote, also would repeal a state law making it illegal for a woman to have an abortion. That law hasn't been enforced because of the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision. The state, however, would still keep on its books the part of the law making it illegal to provide an abortion.

The measure also includes provisions requiring doctors to ensure women are not coerced into getting abortions at least 24 hours before administering the procedure. Women under state law already are required to consent to an abortion 24 hours in advance.

Earlier this week, the Assembly sent to Walker a bill prohibiting the insurance plans to be offered in Wisconsin under the federal health care law from covering some abortions.

End-of-session issues

Here's a look at some of the other measures that passed or were scheduled to be taken up:

Education . The Assembly approved on a bipartisan vote of 80-14 an education-reform bill aimed at improving reading achievement, implementing a consistent method for evaluating educators, and raising expectations for teacher-training programs.

The bill would require public elementary schools to administer an early literacy assessment for kindergartners starting this fall. The state would provide an additional $800,000 for the screenings.

The bill passed the Senate last week, 20-13, and now goes to Walker. Some Democrats have opposed the bill because a plan to create a statewide school accountability system for public schools and publicly funded private voucher schools was not included in the legislation put forth by Republican legislators.

The measure would also require prospective elementary and special-education teachers to take a new reading instruction exam before they could obtain teaching licenses, beginning on Jan. 1, 2014. The proposal also requires a statewide educator evaluation system whereby a principal or teacher's score would be based 50% on student performance measures and 50% on their practice.

Home brew . Both the Assembly and Senate passed a bill on a voice vote that would make it easier to share home-brewed beer and wine. Under the bill, a license to make beer or wine is not required if the person brewing it doesn't receive compensation, doesn't sell it and makes no more than 200 gallons in a year, depending on the number of people of legal drinking age in a household. The bill would allow home brewers to share their beer and wine with others and enter their products in competitions.

Unemployment . Both houses approved bills that would provide for stricter standards for receiving unemployment compensation. One provision provides for stiffer penalties for people who conceal wages they earn when applying for jobless benefits. Proceeds from the penalties would go to a new fund to pay for fraud detection of unemployment benefits.

Rent to own . The Assembly passed, 52-39, a bill that would allow stores to have consumers sign rent-to-own agreements that do not disclose their annual percentage rate. Instead, retailers would have to tell the buyer the total cost of purchasing an item through a rent-to-own agreement, and the difference between that price and the cash price.

However, the Senate did not take up the measure, meaning it won't become law.

Cost analyses . The Assembly approved a bill, 58-35, that would end the requirement that the Department of Transportation do an analysis of whether private consultants are cheaper than state employees before bidding out engineering work. The Senate did not pass that bill, so the department will have to continue doing the analyses.

Piers . The Assembly was expected to approve new rules that would grandfather all existing docks on waterways from being required to meet certain size limits. The rules were earlier approved by the Senate 20-13.

The issue of dock regulation has been controversial for years, and erupted most recently when the Department of Natural Resources under former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle sought changes in regulations. Advocates then said more regulation was needed to protect sensitive areas near the shore, but many property owners said they should be able to keep their long-standing piers no matter how large they are.

Regulations in 2008 grandfathered most, but not all, piers when new standards on the size of docks were set. A year ago, the Legislature allowed pier owners one more year to meet the deadline to comply with the 2008 regulations - April 1.

But the bill approved on Thursday means all existing docks in Wisconsin would not be subject to size limitations. Owners of new piers would still have to meet certain size requirements.

The Wisconsin Lakes Association opposed the bill. The group says there is no evidence that Wisconsin has a systematic problem with approving permits. It noted DNR figures showing the agency makes decisions on permits in 26 days for 97% of applications.

Tenant rights . The Assembly was to consider revamping state law regarding tenant rights, including how to handle the disposal of personal property left behind after a tenant moves. The proposal, which passed the Senate on Wednesday, would allow landlords to deduct money from a renter's security deposit to cover unpaid rent or utilities and require landlords to provide new tenants with a check-in sheet with an itemized description of the home's condition.

Landlords would be able to presume that personal property left behind by a former tenant was abandoned and could dispose of it in any way they think is appropriate, with the tenant responsible for any costs of disposal. Drug prescriptions and medical equipment would have to be kept for seven days.

Tenants would have to notify landlords in writing of any repairs or maintenance required before reporting the problem to authorities. Communities and counties could not block landlords from evicting tenants.

Lee Bergquist, Meg Jones and Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

About Patrick Marley

Patrick Marley covers state government and state politics. He is the author, with Journal Sentinel reporter Jason Stein, of "More Than They Bargained For: Scott Walker, Unions and the Fight for Wisconsin.”